I'm think about a Bravo. Just moved into a waterfront house and looking for something that can be stored on the dock. I need something easy to launch and rig for mostly solo sailing. The Bravo looks like a fun little boat that would allow a little water time without being a big hassle.

Anyone here keep theirs on a dock or seawall? If so, how do you launch and retrive the boat? I'd really like to figure a way that doesn't require a davit. Just wondering if anyone has come up with something other than the obvious ......

The floating dock will need a bottom job every year; been there, done that. That's one reason I'm looking at a small boat. I miss sailing but not big boat ownership.

I'm lucky to be on deep water and ramps would be just too steep.

At 195 lbs I should be able to fabricate a davit and use a hand crank winch. I just don't want to run electricity out to the dock if I don't need to. You know, carbon footprint and all. I notice one of my neighbors made a davit for his rowing shell, I'm going to check it out.

I've met one of the guys at Tackle Shack, we worked on his jet boat. I'm going to call and set up a demo as soon as I get a chance. I'm leaving next week (riding to Indy to watch the US MotoGP) so it will probably be a few weeks before I can actually sail one.

Back in the day I had a Hobie 16, sailed the heck outta that thing! After 4 years of just about every weekend I sold it and got a "in the water" monohull. It's been 15 years since I've owned a boat and I'm just looking for something simple and fun.

A couple of questions, are you looking to pull the boat onto a dock or Bulkhead? How much do you have to lift it? I don't imagine you have much in the way of tides so it should be a fairly consistent distance.

As far as the Bravo goes, I don't think you are going to find anything simpler. Only takes a few minutes to setup. I used to sail larger cats and find the Bravo to be a lot of fun and you can really push it.

One suggestion, see if the dealer has a boom kit you can try out during the demo. You will really want one for off the wind sailing.

We've got about a 5' difference during extreem tides. That puts my dock 5 to 10 feet off the water. The seawall is about a foot higher.

Back when I was taking spring breaks, I could do a lot of things I can't do now! One of 'em is hauling 195 lbs onto the dock by hand. My neighbor is a retired mechanical engeneer, he's offered to design something for me if I get the boat.

The dock isn't really large and I will probably attach any lifting devise to the dock, but close enough so the boat could be put on the seawall.

Thanks for the advise on the boom, I'd already figured it would make a big difference with all around sail control.